Meeting Date: December 5, 2024
To: Members of the Housing & Redevelopment Authority
From: Melissa Hanson, Housing Coordinator
Title
Northfield Union of Youth Wallflower House.
Body
Action Requested:
HRA to consider support of NUY's Wallflower House transitional housing program and approve Memorandum of Understanding.
Summary Report:
The HRA's mission is to be a partner in providing a sufficient supply of affordable, adequate, safe and sanitary dwellings in Northfield. Our goal is to create a community with housing opportunities available along the entire housing spectrum: from renters to homeownership, first-time homeowners, to senior living, workforce housing and empty nesters. We strive to create affordable housing opportunities and strengthen our neighborhoods utilizing sustainability, innovation, partnerships and community input.
The mission of Northfield Union of Youth (NUY) is to provide power and voice to youth through the creation of a caring and enriching community. NUY assists youth up to age 24 with finding safe and stable housing. NUY has extended outreach beyond their primary space at The Key by housing young people in emergency shelters and in host home family model through the NUY Wallflower Project. The Wallflower Project began in the fall of 2017 with seed money from the HRA and provides homeless youth with counseling and safe shelter and provides educational opportunities and support to host home families.
Due to the success of the Wallflower Project, and the identified needs of unhoused youth, NUY looks to expand the project to include a transition component called Wallflower House. Wallflower House would provide for:
* An opportunity for young people staying in Wallflower host homes, who have turned 18 years-old and/or graduated from high school, to move a step closer to sustainable independence with an opportunity to transition with continued NUY supports;
* Opening needed space in Wallflower Project host homes for youth 18 ye...
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